I am planning a 3 day trip to Dickson, Tennessee from Polk County Airport to Dickson County Municipal Airport, M02 to visit the Tennessee PRA Chapter 16 Volunteer State Rotorheads and David McCutchen. Day 1 first leg on a Friday is 60 NM to 8A1, Guntersville Municipal Airport, Alabama, . From there 59.6 NM to Abernathy Field Airport, Pulaski, Tennessee, GZS. The final leg from there to Dickson County is 61.2 NM. Day 2 would be in attendance to the Chapter's Saturday quarterly meeting and day 3 would be the return trip along the same route back to Polk County Airport. My wife Danita Duncan would bring our camper for the weekend.
In order to miss the West Georgia/East Alabama Mountains and the congestion around Huntsville, AL from Polk County would be by heading to Guntersville, AL 8A1 takes pretty much the same route I flew going to Piedmont, slightly north of the range between Cedartown and Alabama. This initial heading is more westerly and is not directly toward Dickson in order to avoid the mountains further to the north. The route would allow a slight deviation further west, if needed for a stop at Centre-Piedmont Airport, Alabama, PYP.
In order to avoid Huntsville, AL the leg from Guntersville, AL, 8A1, would require flying a little more north than needed toward Huntsville Executive Airport, KMDQ for the initial Heading and then back on course to Pulaski, TN, KGZS. Having airport way points that are not planned stops is good practice since they provide gps coordinates and are potential stops if needed.
If I was limited to only 5 gallons of fuel, these would be definite stops with an added stop in Centre-Piedmont, PYP. The trip would take much longer but, could be done with an ultra light.
Another airport way point that I will add between GZS and M02 on the final leg would be Maury County, Tennessee, KMRC.
The route would be as follows as entered into a gps or by using a knee board and compass (data from AirNav):
1st Leg: 4A4 to 8A1 60 NM WNW Initial True Course 293
2nd Leg: 8A1 to KMDQ 30.9 NM NW Initial True Course 332 to KGZS 30.3 NM NW Initial True Course 306
3rd Leg: KGZS to KMRC 24.8 NM N Initial True Course 346 to M02 36.5 NM N Initial True Course 341
Jon Carleton, our Peach State PRA Chapter President, told me about using TCP Lead Removal Additive.sold by Aircraft Spruce for use on cross country trips that would eliminate the need for a crew with mogas. I purchased a bottle yesterday and will test it with Avgas per Jon's recommendation in the pattern before attempting a long trip.
For a long trip I would just need to carry enough oil and this additive for each refueling stop.
Just writing about this is getting me exited about making the trip!
In order to avoid Huntsville, AL the leg from Guntersville, AL, 8A1, would require flying a little more north than needed toward Huntsville Executive Airport, KMDQ for the initial Heading and then back on course to Pulaski, TN, KGZS. Having airport way points that are not planned stops is good practice since they provide gps coordinates and are potential stops if needed.
If I was limited to only 5 gallons of fuel, these would be definite stops with an added stop in Centre-Piedmont, PYP. The trip would take much longer but, could be done with an ultra light.
Another airport way point that I will add between GZS and M02 on the final leg would be Maury County, Tennessee, KMRC.
The route would be as follows as entered into a gps or by using a knee board and compass (data from AirNav):
1st Leg: 4A4 to 8A1 60 NM WNW Initial True Course 293
2nd Leg: 8A1 to KMDQ 30.9 NM NW Initial True Course 332 to KGZS 30.3 NM NW Initial True Course 306
3rd Leg: KGZS to KMRC 24.8 NM N Initial True Course 346 to M02 36.5 NM N Initial True Course 341
Jon Carleton, our Peach State PRA Chapter President, told me about using TCP Lead Removal Additive.sold by Aircraft Spruce for use on cross country trips that would eliminate the need for a crew with mogas. I purchased a bottle yesterday and will test it with Avgas per Jon's recommendation in the pattern before attempting a long trip.
For a long trip I would just need to carry enough oil and this additive for each refueling stop.
Just writing about this is getting me exited about making the trip!
No comments:
Post a Comment